Kimbo Slice's son is rising high school football prospect in Miami

Give Kevin Ferguson II an opportunity to talk about something and he'll talk. He has a quality that a lot of 16-year-old football players do not. And it's not his full beard of facial hair.

He loves the camera, does not get nervous in interview situations and carries himself as if he's used to the limelight and being a celebrity. Well, the celebrity part may certainly come, but for now the celebrity in his life is his father Kimbo Slice.

Yep, that Kimbo Slice -- whose real name is Kevin Ferguson Sr. -- the street-fighting internet sensation who did wonders for the world of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Mixed Martial Arts and its incredulous popularity. Kimbo fought in the first-ever, prime-time televised mixed martial arts event in 2008.

"He wasn't always famous. We've been regular," says his son Kevin Jr., who will be a junior running back at Miami Booker T. Washington High this season, transferring from Miramar High where he transferred to last year after playing his freshman season at Coral Springs.

He bounces between the Miami-area homes of his mother (Shontae Ferguson), where he stays when his dad is out of town, and he stays with his father when he's home.

"He's a cool dad. He's more like a brother to me, but you also have to keep the respect there because he's also our father ... not just our friend."

The young Kevin was used as more of a short-yardage back at Miramar last year, rushing for 275 yards on 44 carries with 6 touchdowns.

The opposition certainly knows who's behind the facemask on the other side of the ball.

"I hear it all the time," Junior said. "It's a motivation. Kimbo Slice being my dad is a motivation to not be as good as him, but to be better than him. So, when dudes criticize me about who he is, that just let's me know that they know who I am, and I just go out there and try to make my presence known. I don't try to be Kimbo Slice's son, I want to be Kevin Ferguson the second."

Ferguson is still waiting on college offers, but he has two high school seasons remaining. He's 6-1, 195 pounds, probably 6-7 if you count the mohawk.

As a college football fan he likes UM, of course, and also Alabama and would welcome an offer from either school. "But at the same time, I have to make sure what offer is right for me," he said.

He has nine brothers and sisters, counting Kimbo Sr.'s two different marriages. "My dad has six kids and my mom has 4, and I'm one of them."

He has two other brothers who are also named Kevin Ferguson. "Yeah, kinda like a George Foreman thing."

So how do they know which Kevin dad is talking to? "From the tone in his voice, we know who he's talking to .. so if he's calling for you, you know it and you might as well hurry up and go because he don't like waiting."

Miami Booker T. Washington will be playing back in Orlando for a September 24 matchup with Jones High at the Citrus Bowl. The Tornadoes hope it's a preview of an end-of-the-season trip back to the Citrus Bowl for the state championship.

Dad, 37, who was a linebacker in high school at Miami Palmetto and attended Bethune-Cookman as well as the U, is retired from MMA, but he is scheduled to make his professional boxing debut Aug. 13. He is to fight in a four-round headlining bout against 39-year-old James Wade at the Buffalo Run Casino in, coincidentally, Miami ... but the one in Oklahoma.

Chris Hays is the Sentinel's recruiting coverage coordinator and can be reached at chays@tribune.com.